How to Raise Chinese Mitten Crabs at Home? A Detailed Guide to Home Rearing Methods
In the mid-autumn season, with the full moon and family gatherings, fat crabs and fragrant flowers, it is one of life's great beautiful scenes. Eating crabs and admiring the moon under the osmanthus tree has been a practice admired by men of letters and free-spirited guests since ancient times. What we are going to talk about now is the crab in this beautiful scene of life, and how to raise at home the finest of crabs——the Chinese mitten crab?
The Chinese mitten crab has delicious meat and contains rich protein, relatively little fat and carbohydrates, and abundant trace elements. The cholesterol content in the crab roe is relatively high. It is a delicious aquatic delicacy deeply loved by people at the dining table, with high edible value, medicinal value and economic value.
When Chinese mitten crabs are bought and cannot be eaten in time, there are generally three rearing and preservation methods.
1. Keeping them in a washbasin. If the bought Chinese mitten crabs need to be preserved for 3-5 days, you can use a relatively deep washbasin at home or a larger and deeper plastic bucket for rearing. First gently pick up the Chinese mitten crabs and put them into the washbasin or other container, then add clean water (tap water is recommended to be left standing in the sun for 2 hours). The water depth should not be too deep; it is advisable to make it deep enough that the Chinese mitten crabs can stand up and breathe at the water surface. If storing for a longer time, it is recommended to put a small amount of small fish and small shrimp into the water.
2. Keeping them in a plastic bucket. Use a plastic bucket or basin 30-50cm high, place the Chinese mitten crabs flat inside, and be careful not to let the crabs stack on top of each other. Then add water up to half the height of the Chinese mitten crabs' bodies. Remember that the water must not completely submerge the Chinese mitten crabs. Do not put a lid on the bucket or basin, and place it in a ventilated and cool place.
3. Preserving them in the refrigerator. Choose Chinese mitten crabs with vigorous vitality, and tie up the crabs' legs to reduce their physical energy consumption. When eating each day, first pick out the ones with insufficient vitality to eat; the Chinese mitten crabs with sufficient vitality can continue to be preserved. Place them in the refrigerator's cold storage compartment, keeping the temperature at 5°C-10°C. Cover the crabs with a wet towel to preserve them, so as to maintain appropriate humidity.
The above are the main methods for rearing Chinese mitten crabs at home. Keeping Chinese mitten crabs at home for a long time will cause them to lose vitality, and the deliciousness after cooking will also be reduced. After buying Chinese mitten crabs, everyone should still eat them as soon as possible.